When food access became more urgent, Lane County stepped up. Through collaboration between local organizations and farms, initiatives like Lane County Bounty helped bridge the gap—bringing fresh, local food to more households while supporting farmers at the same time. It’s a powerful example of what’s possible when a community invests in its local food system—not just in times of crisis, but as a long-term solution.

Listeners producer Kristen Mico speaks with Fiona Conneely and Shelley Sculer about how food hubbing models offer solutions to small farms, markets and food assistance programs.  At a time when programs that support access to fresh food and livelihoods of small farmers have been dramatically cut, and food assistance benefits like SNAP are also being cut, social service organizations are scrambling to figure out how to keep families fed. Fiona Conneely is with a Portland organization, Lift Up,  trying to do just that. She and Shelley Schular have a lot to talk about, as Shelley operates Lane County Bounty, a Eugene-based food hub that aggregates produce and goods from local farms, offering affordable, fresh food to a range of markets through a convenient online delivery service that provides choice and cultural goods. 

Lane County Bounty didn’t just grow—they evolved. What started as a farm-led response to COVID quickly became a multi-layered food hub serving both farmers and the community. But with that growth came complexity—and the realization that standard eCommerce tools couldn’t keep up. By switching to a platform built specifically for food hubs, Lane County Bounty streamlined operations, strengthened producer relationships, and created a more seamless experience for customers. The result is a more resilient, scalable model for local food—one that proves infrastructure matters just as much as intention.

When COVID-19 disrupted traditional food systems, many local farmers were forced to quickly adapt—shifting away from restaurant and wholesale channels toward direct-to-consumer models almost overnight. Across Lane County and beyond, farms leaned into online ordering, CSA programs, and local delivery to meet a sudden surge in demand from households seeking reliable, locally sourced food. While the transition came with challenges, it also revealed something powerful: a renewed connection between farmers and their communities. As grocery store shelves emptied, more people turned to local producers—not just for food, but for trust, transparency, and resilience.